West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James for the tip – the Beach Drive/Constellation Park speed bumps are in, a week and a half after we spotted the SDOT markings, which in turn was shortly after City Councilmember Lisa Herbold announced they were in the works. Neighbors had long been seeking traffic calming along this stretch, because of problems like this:
(May 2016 racing video)
The three bumps are installed on Beach Drive between the stormwater-treatment plant and 63rd SW.
(9:41 PM TOPLINE: SFD on “fire watch” all night at scene of 3-alarm fire. 47 people displaced; Red Cross helping. No one was hurt. No word yet on cause)
(Added: Video contributed by next-door neighbor Seth – read his story below in 5:10 pm update – that’s the back, west-facing side of building)
FIRST REPORT, 2:42 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is headed to the 6900 block of Delridge Way SW [map]. The first units arriving are seeing “heavy smoke.”
2:45 PM: SFD is calling out a second alarm. This is just north of the busy Delridge/Orchard/Sylvan intersection so avoid that area TFN.
(This photo and next are courtesy Jennifer)
2:53 PM: Via scanner, one person is reported injured, and this is described as a “significant exterior fire on several units.” Our crew is arriving in the area and confirms “serious smoke.”
3:01 PM: The fire also is reported to be in the attic.
3:05 PM: For those asking about the helicopters, they are just TV. SFD does not have helicopters.
(WSB Instagram video – mouse over image to find and click play button)
3:15 PM: SFD is continuing to search the building. They also have called for more units.
3:27 PM: Via scanner, we hear they are calling for the Red Cross, which assists victims in situations like this – the number of units affected could be in the double digits. And we’ve confirmed this fire has now gone to 3 alarms (each “full response” group of units is one alarm, so this is roughly triple what would usually respond to a building fire).
3:43 PM: Firefighters are focusing now on “hot spots.” Meantime, as mentioned in comment discussion, this is a Seattle Housing Authority complex. The SHA website says the complex has 51 units; we’re expecting an official briefing at the scene momentarily, to find out among other things how many units are affected.
4:05 PM: More than three dozen SFD units remain on the scene – see the list here.
Just heard from our crew at the scene, after the briefing by SFD spokesperson Lt. Harold Webb. He says they have no information yet on how this started. (Added: Video of Lt. Webb’s entire briefing)
Contrary to an early report, no one has been hurt – it appears at this point that everyone got out OK. At least 20 units are damaged or destroyed – see the photo we added above, showing how much of the roof is gone in the building – so this is affecting a lot of families, and as mentioned, the Red Cross disaster response team is coming out to figure out how to help.
4:17 PM: Metro buses are being brought into the scene so that residents have someplace to go in the short run. And we’ve heard back from SHA communications director Kerry Coughlin, who says, “SHA has numerous senior property management and communications staff on the scene. We absolutely will make sure all affected residents will have housing until their units are safe and restored. We will work with the Red Cross and other community partners as needed and use emergency hotel vouchers or other resources as needed.”
5:10 PM: Some of the units are being dismissed. Please continue to avoid Delridge/Orchard TFN; Metro says Route 120 is still being rerouted. Meantime, we have added video at the top of this report, taken even before SFD arrived, shared by next-door neighbor Seth, who says, “I live next door. I saw smoke, ran around the side and saw flame and smoke and didn’t hear any alarms. I saw one cop run in the south entrance and up the stairs so I ran in the downstairs hallway to activate an alarm, which thankfully worked. I took the video right after. Pretty scary stuff. I went up the driveway to our house and grabbed our cat and car and headed out. I’m soooo grateful for SFD right now. I’m convinced they saved our house.” We are also adding, inline above, several more photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand taken during the peak of the firefight. He’ll be going back to the scene later this evening to follow up.
7:50 PM: Delridge Way has reopened.
8:14 PM: From our return to the scene – the Red Cross is there:
47 people were displaced; 35 are accepting help from the Red Cross, according to spokesperson Jennifer Blackwood, who says a temporary shelter is set up at Delridge Community Center for tonight and maybe tomorrow night. Cots were being set up there and dinner was waiting for the residents, who were getting a Metro bus ride to DCC. It was stressed again, if you want to help, please do it via the Red Cross. (Commenter McBride made that point eloquently earlier.)
We also talked with Seattle Housing Authority reps at the scene. More on that shortly.
9:41 PM: SFD remains on “fire watch” all night, meaning at least one crew will be on scene in case there’s a flareup – this is fairly standard with major fires. No word yet on the cause; the investigation continues tomorrow.
SHA told us at the scene that they also have private security to help SFD keep the scene secure. They in the meantime are working with building managers on the next step. They’ll go in to assess the damage once SFD gives them the go-ahead, possibly as soon as tomorrow. That’s also when they will start working to find SHA housing for those who don’t have family or friends to stay with; they stress that they will do their best to keep families close to the schools their children attend and to ensure people are still able to get to their jobs.
They also wanted to thank their on-site managers, SFD, and the SW Precinct police for their quick response and getting everyone out safely after the fire broke out.
Three updates today on repeat offenders whose cases we have been checking on:
(July surveillance photo, provided by burglary victim)
PLEA BARGAIN FOR JESSICA DETRICK: She is the repeat offender most memorable for surveillance video/photos showing her with her dog in tow at crime scenes. We reported in August that she was charged in two burglaries, June in Highland Park and July in Upper Fauntleroy. Now, checking back on her case, we discovered that Detrick, 36, has struck a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to three counts – residential burglary in the July case, criminal trespass and third-degree theft in the June case. Charging documents noted that Detrick had 38 warrants in King County since 2000, as well as arrest and/or conviction records in Illinois and Arizona; her first conviction was at age 15. Her sentencing is set for October 14th before King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell, but she is not being recommended for prison time; instead, prosecutors write that she appears to be eligible for the residential version of the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA), and recommend 24 months of community custody (probation) provided she spends three to six months in residential drug-dependency treatment. If she doesn’t comply, she would face jail time beyond what she will have served at the time of her sentencing.
SEAN JEARDOE: The serial burglar with whom Detrick was arrested twice in 2013 (as summarized in this WSB followup last June) – though she was never charged in either case – is back in jail, we noticed while checking the roster today. Jeardoe (Department of Corrections photo at right) was released from prison earlier this year after serving a DOSA sentence that included mandatory treatment (here’s our report on the 2014 sentencing); then in June, he was arrested and charged in with drug possession. In July, a failure-to-appear warrant was issued, and as of this morning, he’s in jail in connection with that warrant and for investigation of possessing a stolen vehicle. We don’t yet know where the new arrest happened but we’re checking.
ALAN POLEVIA: We’ve reported on this 35-year-old serial burglar multiple times over the past several years. Polevia (Department of Corrections photo at right, from 2013 WSB story) has been in the King County Jail four times this year alone, according to the roster records, most recently getting out on September 1st after two and a half weeks. While checking the court files’ “new charges” list recently, we found a new case filed against him, unlawful gun possession, in connection with an April incident in West Seattle. According to the charging documents, Polevia was found unconscious in the 8600 block of 29th SW the morning of April 26th, face up, with a loaded .22 caliber handgun next to him and a box of 100 rounds of ammunition in a backpack next to him. When revived, he told police he had swallowed a half-ounce of heroin and that the gun wasn’t his; police checked, but it hadn’t been reported as stolen. He wasn’t booked into jail at the time, but instead taken to Harborview. The charges filed September 16th have resulted in a $25,000 warrant for his arrest.
P.S. One more reminder, a King County prosecutor who works on repeat-offender cases will be the guest at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) – as previewed on the WSBWCN website.
(WSB photo from midway through last Sunday’s Recycle Roundup)
Another big harvest for the fall edition of the Recycle Roundup free-dropoff event in Fauntleroy this past Sunday. Judy Pickens has the numbers, and the dates for next year:
Sunday’s fall recycle roundup at Fauntleroy Church brought in 9.25 tons for responsible recycling. The crew from 1 Green Planet unloaded just over 400 vehicles. The church’s green committee will host the 2017 roundups on Sunday, April 23, and Sunday, September 24.
When April gets closer, we’ll remind you, of course, especially once the “what will and won’t be accepted” list comes in.
(Mount Rainier, Seacrest, and Salty’s – one of tonight’s spotlight event locations – photographed Sunday by Robert Spears)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
VOTER REGISTRATION DAY & BALLOT-BOX CELEBRATION: 4-7 pm at High Point Library, in honor of National Voter Registration Day, celebrate the new ballot dropbox (ready for its second election, next month) and register to vote if you aren’t already registered. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
BOEING FIELD MASTER PLAN OPEN HOUSE: What’s in the future for the airport closest to West Seattle? 5-7 pm tonight, you’re invited to an open house about the Boeing Field (King County International Airport) Master Plan. It’s at the airport’s South Arrivals area. (7277 Perimeter Road S.)
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, WSBWCN’s featured guest is from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, talking about prosecuting repeat property-crime offenders. Here’s the preview on the WSBWCN website. You don’t have to be in a Block Watch to attend – all welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: Live/work in The Junction? See what’s up with your neighborhood organization. 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building/Senior Center. Agenda highlights are in our calendar listing. (SW Oregon/California SW)
TUESDAY TUNE-UP: Live music and awareness-raising at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6:30-8:30 pm, benefiting Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST), as explained in our calendar listing. (1936 Harbor SW)
SIGGIE THE VINTAGE MAN: Live music at Whisky West in Morgan Junction, 7-9 pm. No cover; 21+. (6451 California SW)
JOE ROSS & THE BIRD WATCHERS: Live New Orleans honky-tonk music at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District, starting at 8 pm. No cover; 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
West Seattle High School‘s athletic director says their Friday night football game vs. Cleveland HS at Southeast Athletic Complex might have to be canceled because of the ongoing transportation problem with away games.
That’s what AD Trevor Leopold told the 20+ people at last night’s community meeting called to strategize how to get Seattle Public Schools to address the ongoing problem, which is affecting other schools too.
Patrick Sand covered the meeting for WSB: Read More
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: No incidents to report so far this morning.
THIS WEEK’S ALERTS
*Spokane St. project continues east of the low bridge
*Work on the Admiral Way Safety Project starts tomorrow
*Seattle Public Schools get out two hours early tomorrow
*West Seattle Bridge west-end closure 12-9 am Saturday to replace damaged jersey barriers
7:42 AM: Crash reported at West Marginal S & Holden, which is the entrance to the NB 1st Ave S. Bridge.
7:48 AM: SDOT reports a crash in the bus lane on the EB West Seattle Bridge.
8:07 AM: Update on the W Marginal/Holden crash – WSDOT now shows it on SB 99 south of the 1st Ave S Bridge, not NB.
8:44 AM: SDOT says the West Seattle Bridge crash has cleared.
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